Echo microphone of the handy type

ABSTRACT

Echo microphone of the handy type having means for obtaining reverberation signal which comprises a diaphragm, a microphone unit and an elongated reverberation spring which is connected mechanically with said diaphragm and said microphone unit.

United States Patent 1 Ojima et al.

[ 1 Nov. 25, 1975 ECHO MICROPHONE OF THE HANDY TYPE Inventors: Shin ()jima; Tooru Yoshimura;

Kazuhiko Oogami; Aitaka Umezaki, all of Yao, Japan Assignee:

Hoshidenkiseizo Kabushikikaisha,

Yao, Japan Filed:

Jan. 29, 1974 Appl. No.: 437,740

Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 5, 1973 Feb. 5, 1973 Feb 5, 1973 May 26, 1973 May 26, 1973 May 26, 1973 July 31, 1973 July 31, 1973 Japan 48-16073 Japan 48-16074 Japan 48-16075 Japan i i v 48-61797 Japan 14 48-61798 Japan .v 48-61799 Japan..... 48-90875 Japan 48-90876 US. Cl. 179/11; 179/109; 179/139 Int. Cl. H04R 7/00 Field of Search 179/1 .1, 109, 116, 121 R,

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,167,551 4/1964 Gennany .4 179/] J Primary E.raminerRalph D. Blakeslee Attorney, Agent, or FirmEdwin E. Greigg 2 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures jOO-i U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 3 of5 3,922,489

F g-10A F Rm U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 5 of 5 3,922,489

ECHO MICROPHONE OF THE HANDY TYPE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an echo microphone of the handy type. Many reverberation devices have been known, but they are all such devices that process the electric signal from an electroacoustic transducer by means of electric circuits or electromechanic devices. Therefore they have disadvantages in cost and treatment.

SUMMARY OF THIS INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide to an echo microphone of the handy type being capable to obtain a reverberation signal without electric circuits and electromechanic devices.

Other and further objects of this invention will become obvious upon an understanding of the illustration embodiments about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of a first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a partly enlarged axial sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an axial sectional view of a second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view of a third embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a wiring diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6 to 9 are axial sectional views of another embodiments of this invention.

FIGS. 10A and 11A are partly schematic plan views of the embodiment of FIG. 9.

FIGS. 10B and 11B are partly schematic side view of the embodiment of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a side view of another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 13 is an axial sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a side view of still another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 15 is an axial sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 14.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the attached drawings, in FIG. 1, there is shown a first embodiment of an echo microphone of the handy type according to this invention, which includes a housing 100, a diaphragm 201 supported at the opening end 102 of the housing 100, a microphone unit 300 disposed within the housing 100 and an elongated reverberation spring 220. At a suitable point, this spring 220 is mechanically connected with diaphragm 201 and at another suitable point, with the diaphragm 303 of the microphone unit 300. This spring 220 is also mechanically connected with the elastic strips 210 and 240 at its both ends. A cover metal 103 which has many holes 104 covers the opening 102. Sponge rubbers 230 disposed within the housing 100 serves to hold the spring 220 so as not to vibrate transversely. A flexible wire 400 leads from the microphone unit 300.

More particularly, as shown in detail in FIG. 2, dia phragm 201 (or 303) has a recess 202 (or 304), and adhesive resin 203 filled in this recess 202 (or 304) fixes the spring 220 firmly.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention in which the housing comprises two sections 111, 112 which are manually slidable longitudinally to control the echo effect.

Since the embodiment of FIG. 3 and other embodiment described hereinafter are similar to that of FIG. 1, like elements are given like reference charactors.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 there is shown a third embodiments which is similar to that above described with the exception that it provides another microphone unit 350 fixed at the opening end 102 of the housing and a switch 410 disposed with the sidewall of the housing 100. The microphone unit 300, 350 and the switch 410 are connected by wires 401 such way as shown in FIG. 5. Thus the speaker or singer himself holding this microphone may selectively obtain the echo effect at his desire.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 are substantially similar to the preceding embodiments. FIG. 6 shows a connecting rod 221 which is mechanically connected between the spring 220 at a suitable intermediate point and the diaphragm 303 of the microphone unit. The embodiment of FIG. 7 is similar to that of FIG. 6 with the exception that it has not the diaphragm 201. In FIG. 8, the two elastic strips 210, 240 for holding the spring 220 are removed, and the spring 220 at its both ends is mechanically connected with the first diaphragm 201 and the second diaphragm 251 which forms a closed chamber between the diaphragm 303, otherwise similar that of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment which includes an inner housing having the diaphragms 201, 251 and the spring 220, a sound pass 129 formed between the housing 100 and 121, and a manually rotative section 131 mounted at the bottom end of the housing 100. The inner housing 121 is provided with openings 123 at its bottom 122 and other openings 133 at its side. The section 131 has the microphone unit 300 and is provided with openings 133 at its top and other openings 134 at its side. Thus the person holding this microphone can either rotate the section 131 so as to coincide the openings 123 and 133 in position as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, obtaining the echo effect, or rotate the section 131 so as to coincide the openings 124 and 134 as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, obtaining a sound signal without echo from the microphone unit 300.

FIGS. 12 to 15 shows the other two embodiments in detail. Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13 there is shown the embodiment which is similar to those of FIG. 4 or FIG. 8, this embodiment being substantially one of the combination of those of FIG. 4 and FIG. 8. The housing 100 has openings 106, 107 at its top side and intermediate side. The opening 102 is covered with a protector made of the material suitable for passing sound. An inner housing disposed in the housing 100 contains the diaphragms 201, 251 and the reverberation spring 220, and has an opening 141 corresponding in position to the opening 107 of the housing 100. This opening structure serves to avoid the resonance in the cavity which the inner housing 140 forms to contain the spring. The sound reaches the microphone 350 through the end opening 102 and openings 106, and also reaches the diaphragm 201 through the openings 102,

106. The switch 410 is a manually selecting means electrically connected as shown in FIG. 5.

ln FIGS. 14 and 15, the housing 100 comprises two longitudinally divided sections held together by screws 160, and has longitudinal grooves 151 formed suitable for grasping and openings 152, 153, the opening 152 adapted to avoid the resonance in the cavity. The spring 220 is held by an elastic strip 241 so that the spring 220 may vibrate only along the longitudinal direction. A sponge 108 made of suitable material for passing sound is disposed on the top portion of the housing to cover the end opening 102.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. These and other modifications, readily apparent to persons skilled in the art, are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. An echo microphone of the handy type comprising a housing suitable for grasping with a front opening end for receiving sound and a rear end, a first diaphragm fixed to close the from opening end of the housing, a second diaphragm spaced from the first diaphragm at a predetermined distance and fixed to the inner wall of said housing, a reverberation spring coupled between said first and second diaphragm, and a microphone unit disposed at the rear end of said housing and having a third diaphragm spaced from the second diaphragm at a predetermined distance. the diameter of the third diaphragm being substantially the same as the inner diameter of the housing so as to form a closed chamber between said second and third diaphragms.

2. An echo microphone of the handy type according to claim 1, wherein said first and second diaphragms have first and second recesses, respectively, and said reverberation spring is coupled between said first and second recesses. 

1. An echo microphone of the handy type comprising a housing suitable for grasping with a front opening end for receiving sound and a rear end, a first diaphragm fixed to close the front opening end of the housing, a second diaphragm spaced from the first diaphragm at a predetermined distance and fixed to the inner wall of said housing, a reverberation spring coupled between said first and second diaphragm, and a microphone unit disposed at the rear end of said housing and having a third diaphragm spaced from the second diaphragm at a predetermined distance, the diameter of the third diaphragm being substantially the same as the inner diameter of the housing so as to form a closed chamber between said second and third diaphragms.
 2. An echo microphone of the handy type according to claim 1, wherein said first and second diaphragms have first and second recesses, respectively, and said reverberation spring is coupled between said first and second recesses. 